Agilent, Waters and Shimadzu: The Instrument SpecialistsNarrow moat

Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) — moat facet

Against instrument specialists Thermo Fisher fights with one segment, spending across the whole company what they can spend on one line.

In instruments Thermo Fisher meets specialists. MarketsandMarkets names Thermo Fisher, Danaher, Agilent Technologies, Waters and Shimadzu among the leading participants in life-science instrumentation, a market it estimates at USD 63.4 billion in 20251. It gives no shares.

Life-science instrumentation market estimate ($bn)63.4202592.532031 forecastMarketsandMarkets research insight; third-party estimate
A growing market with no published shares.

The specialists compete with Analytical Instruments, not with Thermo Fisher's consumables or services. That segment had revenue of $7,554 million in 20252, about 12% of the market estimate if the two definitions matched3, which they may not. Agilent was worth $48.71 billion and Waters $42.59 billion in September 20264.

This is the front where Thermo Fisher is most exposed. A specialist can put all its engineering into one instrument line; Thermo Fisher spends $1,397 million on research and development across the whole company5, 3.1% of revenue6.

The segment's recent record is mixed. Its margin fell from 26.2% in 2024 to 23.0% in 20257, then recovered to 23.0% in the second quarter of 2026 from 18.8% a year earlier8, when organic growth was 7%9.

Research spending is higher where it matters. Research and development was 6.9% of manufacturing revenue in the second quarter of 202610, against 3.1% of total revenue in 202511. The first ratio is the fairer comparison with an instrument specialist, because distribution and services need little research. Even so, a specialist spends its whole budget on the machines Thermo Fisher sells in one segment.

The relationship is narrow and holding. It would weaken if the segment margin fell back below 20%, which would say the specialists were forcing price rather than tariffs.

Moat trajectory: Holding steady

Analytical Instruments margin 23.0% in Q2 2026, from 18.8%.

The number that tests this moat
Reported
Analytical Instruments segment margin, latest quarter
23.0% (Q2 2026), against 18.8% a year earlier

The contested segment's pricing; a fall below 20% would mean specialists are forcing price.

Source: Thermo Fisher Q2 2026 results release ↗
References
  1. Third-party estimateMarketsandMarkets names Thermo Fisher, Danaher, Agilent Technologies, Waters and Shimadzu among the leading participants in life-science instrumentation, a market it estimates at USD 63.4 billion in 2025.
    MarketsandMarkets research insight on life-science instrumentation - leading participants and a market estimate of USD 63.4 billion in 2025 rising to USD 92.53 billion by 2031. — 2025 · publ. 2025 · source ↗
  2. ReportedThat segment had revenue of $7,554 million in 2025, about 12% of the market estimate if the two definitions matched, which they may not.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - segment information: revenue, income, margins, assets and capital spending. — FY2025 · publ. 26 February 2026 · source ↗
  3. Moat Explorer calcThat segment had revenue of $7,554 million in 2025, about 12% of the market estimate if the two definitions matched, which they may not.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Thermo Fisher's reported financial statements, results releases, earnings calls and market data ($ millions unless stated). Revenue by type: consumables + services share (18,664 + 18,592) / 44,556 = 83.6% (2025); (12,576 + 5,490) / 24,358 = 74.2% (2018); (13,109 + 6,046) / 25,542 = 75.0% (2019); (18,527 + 6,912) / 32,218 = 79.0% (2020); (22,608 + 8,850) / 39,211 = 80.2% (2021); (20,624 + 16,367) / 44,915 = 82.4% (2022); (17,597 + 17,614) / 42,857 = 82.2% (2023); (17,587 + 17,845) / 42,879 = 82.6% (2024); H1 2026 (9,794 + 9,899) / 22,999 = 85.6%. Instruments 7,301 / 7,924 - 1 = -7.9% (2022-2025), a fall of 623. Consumables 18,664 / 17,587 - 1 = 6.1%. Services 18,592 / 17,845 - 1 = 4.2%. Gross margin by type 2025: products (25,965 - 13,405) / 25,965 = 48.4%; services (18,592 - 12,913) / 18,592 = 30.5%; total (44,556 - 13,405 - 12,913) / 44,556 = 40.9%. Businesses: BioProduction 2,652 / 2,923 - 1 = -9.3% (2024), 3,200 / 2,652 - 1 = 20.7% (2025), Q2 2026 941 / 745 - 1 = 26.3%. Biosciences 4,169 / 4,238 - 1 = -1.6%. Transplant 492 / 393 - 1 = 25.2%, Q2 134 / 124 - 1 = 8.1%. ImmunoDiagnostics 912 / 802 - 1 = 13.7%, Q2 248 / 234 - 1 = 6.0%. Clinical diagnostics 1,115 / 1,104 - 1 = 1.0%. Microbiology 645 / 618 - 1 = 4.4% (about 2.2% a year); sale price 1,075 / 645 = 1.7 times; microbiology / Specialty Diagnostics 645 / 4,676 = 13.8%. Research and safety channel 7,440 / 6,841 - 1 = 8.8%, Q2 2,036 / 1,883 - 1 = 8.1%, 7,440 - 6,841 = 599. Healthcare channel 1,788 / 1,712 - 1 = 4.4%, 1,788 / 1,764 - 1 = 1.4% (2025), Q2 442 / 407 - 1 = 8.6%. Laboratory products 2,407 / 2,613 - 1 = -7.9%. Channels (7,440 + 1,788) / 44,556 = 9,228 / 44,556 = 20.7%. Revenue growth: 44,556 / 42,879 - 1 = 3.9% (2025), increase 44,556 - 42,879 = 1,677; 44,556 / 42,857 - 1 = 4.0% (2023-2025); 44,556 / 16,965 = 2.6 times (2015-2025). Research channel share of the increase 422 / 1,677 = 25%. Eliminations / revenue 633 / 16,965 = 3.7% (2015), 2,033 / 44,556 = 4.6% (2025). Life Sciences Solutions sold to other segments 1,593 / 10,374 = 15.4%; external revenue 8,781 / 8,160 - 1 = 7.6%. Pharma services 7,142 / 6,685 - 1 = 6.8%; clinical research 7,915 / 7,836 - 1 = 1.0%; Q2 2026 clinical research 2,396 / 1,955 - 1 = 22.6%. Clinical research + pharma services 7,915 + 7,142 = 15,057, / 44,556 = 33.8% (2025); (7,836 + 6,685) / 42,879 = 33.9% (2024); (7,691 + 6,806) / 42,857 = 33.8% (2023); Q2 2026 2,396 + 1,893 = 4,289, / 11,994 = 35.8%; Q2 2025 1,955 + 1,794 = 3,749. Patheon + PPD + Clario 7,358 + 16,036 + 9,098 = 32,492. Clario price / 2025 revenue 9,098 / 1,500 = 6.1 times; 9,098 / 1,250 = 7.3 times; goodwill 5,934 / 9,098 = 65%. Filtration 3,870 / 750 = 5.2 times. LPBS capital expenditure 1,005 / 1,525 = 65.9%. Revenue per employee 32,218 / 80,000 = about $403,000 (2020); 44,556 / 125,000 = about $356,000 (2025); 356 / 403 - 1 = -12%. Remaining performance obligations 24.61 / 28.30 - 1 = -13.0% (2021-2024); 29.70 / 46.336 = 64% of trailing revenue. 2019 backlog 4,577 / 7,768 = 59%. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 44,556 - 21,219 + 22,999 = 46,336; net income 6,704 - 3,124 + 3,387 = 6,967. COVID: Life Sciences Solutions segment income 3,420 / 7,817 - 1 = -56%; testing 0.33 / 7.26 = 4.5% remaining. Tax rate 547 / 7,308 = 7.5% (2025); 657 / 7,037 = 9.3% (2024); 284 / 6,298 = 4.5% (2023). R&D 1,397 / 44,556 = 3.1%. Adjusted less GAAP EPS 22.87 - 17.74 = 5.13. Acquisitions booked since 2021: PPD 16,036 + PeproTech 1,864 + European viral vector 830 + Mesa Biotech 472 + The Binding Site 2,699 + CorEvitas 910 + Olink 3,146 + filtration and separation 3,870 + Clario 9,098 = 38,925. Goodwill and intangibles / total assets (54,832 + 18,606) / 113,174 = 73,438 / 113,174 = 65% (June 2026); (49,362 + 15,838) / 110,343 = 59% (end 2025). Genetic sciences 2,870 / 2,787 - 1 = 3.0%. Analytical Instruments 7,554 / 63,400 = 11.9% of the MarketsandMarkets estimate; revenue 7,463 / 7,263 - 1 = 2.8% (2024), 7,554 / 7,463 - 1 = 1.2% (2025), Q2 1,847 / 1,728 - 1 = 6.9%. Market value against Danaher 249.58 / 157.81 - 1 = 58%. China share of revenue 2,060 / 20,918 = 9.8% (2017), 2,752 / 25,542 = 10.8% (2019), 3,444 / 39,211 = 8.8% (2021), 3,793 / 44,915 = 8.4% (2022). Year-end P/E = market value / net income: 56.61 / 1.975 = 28.7 (2015), 55.74 / 2.022 = 27.6 (2016), 76.14 / 2.225 = 34.2 (2017), 90.09 / 2.938 = 30.7 (2018), 130.27 / 3.696 = 35.2 (2019), 184.61 / 6.375 = 29.0 (2020), 262.92 / 7.725 = 34.0 (2021), 215.98 / 6.950 = 31.1 (2022), 205.08 / 5.995 = 34.2 (2023), 198.99 / 6.335 = 31.4 (2024), 217.70 / 6.704 = 32.5 (2025), trailing 249.58 / 6.967 = 35.8. Segment margins = segment income / segment revenue: Life Sciences Solutions 1,414 / 4,774 = 29.6% (2015), 2,446 / 6,856 = 35.7% (2019), 7,817 / 15,631 = 50.0% (2021), 3,420 / 9,977 = 34.3% (2023), 3,503 / 9,631 = 36.4% (2024); Analytical Instruments 613 / 3,208 = 19.1% (2015), 1,027 / 4,821 = 21.3% (2017), 1,273 / 5,522 = 23.1% (2019), 808 / 5,124 = 15.8% (2020), 1,908 / 7,263 = 26.3% (2023); Specialty Diagnostics 873 / 3,244 = 26.9% (2015), 1,024 / 4,763 = 21.5% (2022); LPBS 922 / 6,372 = 14.5% (2015), 1,271 / 12,245 = 10.4% (2020), 1,844 / 14,862 = 12.4% (2021), 2,872 / 22,511 = 12.8% (2022), 3,358 / 23,041 = 14.6% (2023), 3,090 / 23,157 = 13.3% (2024). Segment shares 2025: Life Sciences Solutions income 3,768 / 10,109 = 37.3%, revenue 10,374 / 46,589 = 22.3%; LPBS external revenue 23,818 / 44,556 = 53.5%. Combined segment margin 10,109 / (44,556 + 2,033) = 10,109 / 46,589 = 21.7%. Segment growth: Life Sciences Solutions 10,374 / 9,631 - 1 = 7.7% (2025), Q2 2026 2,815 / 2,499 - 1 = 12.6%; Specialty Diagnostics 4,676 / 4,512 - 1 = 3.6% (2025), Q2 1,205 / 1,134 - 1 = 6.3%; LPBS 23,984 / 23,157 - 1 = 3.6% (2025), Q2 6,693 / 5,995 - 1 = 11.6%. Ten-year compound growth 2015-2025: Life Sciences Solutions (10,374 / 4,774)^(1/10) - 1 = 8.1%; Specialty Diagnostics (4,676 / 3,244)^(1/10) - 1 = 3.7%; LPBS (23,984 / 6,372)^(1/10) - 1 = 14.2%. Additional: return on equity 6,704 / ((53,407 + 49,584) / 2) = 13.0% (2025). Instruments share 6,292 / 24,358 = 25.8% (2018), 3,305 / 22,999 = 14.4% (H1 2026). Life Sciences Solutions segment income Q2 1,041 / 919 - 1 = 13.3%. Services share 2,297 / 16,965 = 13.5% (2015), 18,592 / 44,556 = 41.7% (2025). Service gross margin (17,614 - 12,589) / 17,614 = 28.5% (2023), (17,845 - 12,654) / 17,845 = 29.1% (2024); product (25,034 - 12,523) / 25,034 = 50.0% (2024). LPBS growth 23,984 - 23,157 = 827 = 457 + 422 - 118 (laboratory products) + 79 (clinical research) - 13 (eliminations). Eliminations 3,010 / 39,211 = 7.7% (2021). Europe 11,826 / 10,741 - 1 = 10.1%; North America 23,033 / 22,764 - 1 = 1.2% (2023-2025). Headcount 125,000 / 122,000 - 1 = 2.5%. Electron microscopy 2,957 / 2,564 - 1 = 15.3%. Net debt end 2025 39,380 - 9,852 - 253 = 29,275. Goodwill added 54,832 - 45,853 = 8,979 (end 2024 to June 2026). Specialty Diagnostics best annual margin 910 / 3,339 = 27.3% (2016). Intersegment shares 2025: 201 / 7,554 = 2.7%, 72 / 4,676 = 1.5%, 167 / 23,984 = 0.7%. COVID response less testing 2021: 9.23 - 7.26 = 1.97 billion. Buyback gain 675.00 / 482.66 - 1 = 40%. Olink goodwill 2,301 / 3,146 = 73%. Life Sciences acquisitions 1,342 + 1,864 + 3,146 + 3,870 = 10,222; segment revenue 10,374 - 4,774 = 5,600. Instrumentation market (92.53 / 63.4)^(1/6) - 1 = 6.5%. Healthcare channel 1,788 / 4,676 = 38%. LPBS segment income Q2 936 / 825 - 1 = 13.5%. Interest cover 7,746 / 1,419 = 5.5 times. EPS 17.74 / 4.92 = 3.6 times. One-point price cut 7,440 x 1% = 74, / 3,350 = 2.2%. Laboratory products 2,407 - 2,525 = -118. Clinical diagnostics Q2 290 / 276 - 1 = 5.1%. Revenue 44,556 - 32,218 = 12,338 (2020-2025). Healthcare channel 1,764 / 1,712 - 1 = 3.0% (2024). Tax at 11.5% instead of 7.5%: 7,308 x 4% = 292. Microbiology Q2 166 / 159 - 1 = 4.4%. Pharma services 6,685 / 6,806 - 1 = -1.8% (2024). Clinical diagnostics 1,115 / 4,676 = 23.8%. Revenue per employee 20,918 / 70,000 = about $299,000 (2017); 25,542 / 75,000 = about $341,000 (2019). Research and safety channel 7,019 / 6,841 - 1 = 2.6% (2024), 7,440 / 7,019 - 1 = 6.0% (2025). Backlog 7,768 / 5,087 - 1 = 52.7% (2019). Restructuring 362 / 7,746 = 4.7%. Laboratory products Q2 608 / 601 - 1 = 1.2%. Services 18,592 / 17,614 - 1 = 5.6%, cost of services 12,913 / 12,589 - 1 = 2.6% (2023-2025). Life Sciences Solutions internal share (9,977 - 8,545) / 9,977 = 14.4% (2023). Biosciences 4,169 / 10,374 = 40.2%. COVID share 6.63 / 32.218 = 20.6% (2020), 9.23 / 39.211 = 23.5% (2021). R&D 1,397 / 1,337 - 1 = 4.5%. Segment income / total assets 10,109 / 110,343 = 9.2%. ImmunoDiagnostics 912 - 802 = 110; clinical diagnostics 1,115 - 1,104 = 11. Restructuring 459 / 6,859 = 6.7% (2023). Microbiology 645 / 44,556 = 1.4%. Laboratory products 2,613 / 23,041 = 11.3% (2023), 2,407 / 23,984 = 10.0% (2025). Clario 0.45 x 371.5 = about 167, / 9,098 = 1.8%. LPBS capex / segment income 1,005 / 3,350 = 30%; Life Sciences Solutions 152 / 3,768 = 4.0%. Equity / assets 52,686 / 113,174 = 46.6%. Clinical research 7,915 / 44,556 = 17.8%. Eliminations Q2 565 / 501 - 1 = 12.8%. Instruments 7,301 / 6,292 - 1 = 16.0%. Revenue per employee 18,274 / 55,000 = about $332,000 (2016). Healthcare channel 1,788 / 44,556 = 4.0%. China 2,797 / 32,218 = 8.7% (2020). RPO 29.70 - 27.92 = 1.78 billion - segment margins, shares and growth. — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Thermo Fisher's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, results releases, earnings calls, MarketsandMarkets and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  4. ReportedAgilent was worth $48.71 billion and Waters $42.59 billion in September 2026.
    Thermo Fisher market capitalisation history - year-end values 2015-2025 ($56.61B in 2015, $217.70B in 2025), with related companies' market values (Danaher $157.81B, Agilent $48.71B, IQVIA $44.50B, Waters $42.59B). — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
  5. ReportedA specialist can put all its engineering into one instrument line; Thermo Fisher spends $1,397 million on research and development across the whole company, 3.1% of revenue.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - financial statements: income, cash flow, repurchases, debt and equity. — FY2025 · publ. 26 February 2026 · source ↗
  6. Moat Explorer calcA specialist can put all its engineering into one instrument line; Thermo Fisher spends $1,397 million on research and development across the whole company, 3.1% of revenue.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Thermo Fisher's reported financial statements, results releases, earnings calls and market data ($ millions unless stated). Revenue by type: consumables + services share (18,664 + 18,592) / 44,556 = 83.6% (2025); (12,576 + 5,490) / 24,358 = 74.2% (2018); (13,109 + 6,046) / 25,542 = 75.0% (2019); (18,527 + 6,912) / 32,218 = 79.0% (2020); (22,608 + 8,850) / 39,211 = 80.2% (2021); (20,624 + 16,367) / 44,915 = 82.4% (2022); (17,597 + 17,614) / 42,857 = 82.2% (2023); (17,587 + 17,845) / 42,879 = 82.6% (2024); H1 2026 (9,794 + 9,899) / 22,999 = 85.6%. Instruments 7,301 / 7,924 - 1 = -7.9% (2022-2025), a fall of 623. Consumables 18,664 / 17,587 - 1 = 6.1%. Services 18,592 / 17,845 - 1 = 4.2%. Gross margin by type 2025: products (25,965 - 13,405) / 25,965 = 48.4%; services (18,592 - 12,913) / 18,592 = 30.5%; total (44,556 - 13,405 - 12,913) / 44,556 = 40.9%. Businesses: BioProduction 2,652 / 2,923 - 1 = -9.3% (2024), 3,200 / 2,652 - 1 = 20.7% (2025), Q2 2026 941 / 745 - 1 = 26.3%. Biosciences 4,169 / 4,238 - 1 = -1.6%. Transplant 492 / 393 - 1 = 25.2%, Q2 134 / 124 - 1 = 8.1%. ImmunoDiagnostics 912 / 802 - 1 = 13.7%, Q2 248 / 234 - 1 = 6.0%. Clinical diagnostics 1,115 / 1,104 - 1 = 1.0%. Microbiology 645 / 618 - 1 = 4.4% (about 2.2% a year); sale price 1,075 / 645 = 1.7 times; microbiology / Specialty Diagnostics 645 / 4,676 = 13.8%. Research and safety channel 7,440 / 6,841 - 1 = 8.8%, Q2 2,036 / 1,883 - 1 = 8.1%, 7,440 - 6,841 = 599. Healthcare channel 1,788 / 1,712 - 1 = 4.4%, 1,788 / 1,764 - 1 = 1.4% (2025), Q2 442 / 407 - 1 = 8.6%. Laboratory products 2,407 / 2,613 - 1 = -7.9%. Channels (7,440 + 1,788) / 44,556 = 9,228 / 44,556 = 20.7%. Revenue growth: 44,556 / 42,879 - 1 = 3.9% (2025), increase 44,556 - 42,879 = 1,677; 44,556 / 42,857 - 1 = 4.0% (2023-2025); 44,556 / 16,965 = 2.6 times (2015-2025). Research channel share of the increase 422 / 1,677 = 25%. Eliminations / revenue 633 / 16,965 = 3.7% (2015), 2,033 / 44,556 = 4.6% (2025). Life Sciences Solutions sold to other segments 1,593 / 10,374 = 15.4%; external revenue 8,781 / 8,160 - 1 = 7.6%. Pharma services 7,142 / 6,685 - 1 = 6.8%; clinical research 7,915 / 7,836 - 1 = 1.0%; Q2 2026 clinical research 2,396 / 1,955 - 1 = 22.6%. Clinical research + pharma services 7,915 + 7,142 = 15,057, / 44,556 = 33.8% (2025); (7,836 + 6,685) / 42,879 = 33.9% (2024); (7,691 + 6,806) / 42,857 = 33.8% (2023); Q2 2026 2,396 + 1,893 = 4,289, / 11,994 = 35.8%; Q2 2025 1,955 + 1,794 = 3,749. Patheon + PPD + Clario 7,358 + 16,036 + 9,098 = 32,492. Clario price / 2025 revenue 9,098 / 1,500 = 6.1 times; 9,098 / 1,250 = 7.3 times; goodwill 5,934 / 9,098 = 65%. Filtration 3,870 / 750 = 5.2 times. LPBS capital expenditure 1,005 / 1,525 = 65.9%. Revenue per employee 32,218 / 80,000 = about $403,000 (2020); 44,556 / 125,000 = about $356,000 (2025); 356 / 403 - 1 = -12%. Remaining performance obligations 24.61 / 28.30 - 1 = -13.0% (2021-2024); 29.70 / 46.336 = 64% of trailing revenue. 2019 backlog 4,577 / 7,768 = 59%. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 44,556 - 21,219 + 22,999 = 46,336; net income 6,704 - 3,124 + 3,387 = 6,967. COVID: Life Sciences Solutions segment income 3,420 / 7,817 - 1 = -56%; testing 0.33 / 7.26 = 4.5% remaining. Tax rate 547 / 7,308 = 7.5% (2025); 657 / 7,037 = 9.3% (2024); 284 / 6,298 = 4.5% (2023). R&D 1,397 / 44,556 = 3.1%. Adjusted less GAAP EPS 22.87 - 17.74 = 5.13. Acquisitions booked since 2021: PPD 16,036 + PeproTech 1,864 + European viral vector 830 + Mesa Biotech 472 + The Binding Site 2,699 + CorEvitas 910 + Olink 3,146 + filtration and separation 3,870 + Clario 9,098 = 38,925. Goodwill and intangibles / total assets (54,832 + 18,606) / 113,174 = 73,438 / 113,174 = 65% (June 2026); (49,362 + 15,838) / 110,343 = 59% (end 2025). Genetic sciences 2,870 / 2,787 - 1 = 3.0%. Analytical Instruments 7,554 / 63,400 = 11.9% of the MarketsandMarkets estimate; revenue 7,463 / 7,263 - 1 = 2.8% (2024), 7,554 / 7,463 - 1 = 1.2% (2025), Q2 1,847 / 1,728 - 1 = 6.9%. Market value against Danaher 249.58 / 157.81 - 1 = 58%. China share of revenue 2,060 / 20,918 = 9.8% (2017), 2,752 / 25,542 = 10.8% (2019), 3,444 / 39,211 = 8.8% (2021), 3,793 / 44,915 = 8.4% (2022). Year-end P/E = market value / net income: 56.61 / 1.975 = 28.7 (2015), 55.74 / 2.022 = 27.6 (2016), 76.14 / 2.225 = 34.2 (2017), 90.09 / 2.938 = 30.7 (2018), 130.27 / 3.696 = 35.2 (2019), 184.61 / 6.375 = 29.0 (2020), 262.92 / 7.725 = 34.0 (2021), 215.98 / 6.950 = 31.1 (2022), 205.08 / 5.995 = 34.2 (2023), 198.99 / 6.335 = 31.4 (2024), 217.70 / 6.704 = 32.5 (2025), trailing 249.58 / 6.967 = 35.8. Segment margins = segment income / segment revenue: Life Sciences Solutions 1,414 / 4,774 = 29.6% (2015), 2,446 / 6,856 = 35.7% (2019), 7,817 / 15,631 = 50.0% (2021), 3,420 / 9,977 = 34.3% (2023), 3,503 / 9,631 = 36.4% (2024); Analytical Instruments 613 / 3,208 = 19.1% (2015), 1,027 / 4,821 = 21.3% (2017), 1,273 / 5,522 = 23.1% (2019), 808 / 5,124 = 15.8% (2020), 1,908 / 7,263 = 26.3% (2023); Specialty Diagnostics 873 / 3,244 = 26.9% (2015), 1,024 / 4,763 = 21.5% (2022); LPBS 922 / 6,372 = 14.5% (2015), 1,271 / 12,245 = 10.4% (2020), 1,844 / 14,862 = 12.4% (2021), 2,872 / 22,511 = 12.8% (2022), 3,358 / 23,041 = 14.6% (2023), 3,090 / 23,157 = 13.3% (2024). Segment shares 2025: Life Sciences Solutions income 3,768 / 10,109 = 37.3%, revenue 10,374 / 46,589 = 22.3%; LPBS external revenue 23,818 / 44,556 = 53.5%. Combined segment margin 10,109 / (44,556 + 2,033) = 10,109 / 46,589 = 21.7%. Segment growth: Life Sciences Solutions 10,374 / 9,631 - 1 = 7.7% (2025), Q2 2026 2,815 / 2,499 - 1 = 12.6%; Specialty Diagnostics 4,676 / 4,512 - 1 = 3.6% (2025), Q2 1,205 / 1,134 - 1 = 6.3%; LPBS 23,984 / 23,157 - 1 = 3.6% (2025), Q2 6,693 / 5,995 - 1 = 11.6%. Ten-year compound growth 2015-2025: Life Sciences Solutions (10,374 / 4,774)^(1/10) - 1 = 8.1%; Specialty Diagnostics (4,676 / 3,244)^(1/10) - 1 = 3.7%; LPBS (23,984 / 6,372)^(1/10) - 1 = 14.2%. Additional: return on equity 6,704 / ((53,407 + 49,584) / 2) = 13.0% (2025). Instruments share 6,292 / 24,358 = 25.8% (2018), 3,305 / 22,999 = 14.4% (H1 2026). Life Sciences Solutions segment income Q2 1,041 / 919 - 1 = 13.3%. Services share 2,297 / 16,965 = 13.5% (2015), 18,592 / 44,556 = 41.7% (2025). Service gross margin (17,614 - 12,589) / 17,614 = 28.5% (2023), (17,845 - 12,654) / 17,845 = 29.1% (2024); product (25,034 - 12,523) / 25,034 = 50.0% (2024). LPBS growth 23,984 - 23,157 = 827 = 457 + 422 - 118 (laboratory products) + 79 (clinical research) - 13 (eliminations). Eliminations 3,010 / 39,211 = 7.7% (2021). Europe 11,826 / 10,741 - 1 = 10.1%; North America 23,033 / 22,764 - 1 = 1.2% (2023-2025). Headcount 125,000 / 122,000 - 1 = 2.5%. Electron microscopy 2,957 / 2,564 - 1 = 15.3%. Net debt end 2025 39,380 - 9,852 - 253 = 29,275. Goodwill added 54,832 - 45,853 = 8,979 (end 2024 to June 2026). Specialty Diagnostics best annual margin 910 / 3,339 = 27.3% (2016). Intersegment shares 2025: 201 / 7,554 = 2.7%, 72 / 4,676 = 1.5%, 167 / 23,984 = 0.7%. COVID response less testing 2021: 9.23 - 7.26 = 1.97 billion. Buyback gain 675.00 / 482.66 - 1 = 40%. Olink goodwill 2,301 / 3,146 = 73%. Life Sciences acquisitions 1,342 + 1,864 + 3,146 + 3,870 = 10,222; segment revenue 10,374 - 4,774 = 5,600. Instrumentation market (92.53 / 63.4)^(1/6) - 1 = 6.5%. Healthcare channel 1,788 / 4,676 = 38%. LPBS segment income Q2 936 / 825 - 1 = 13.5%. Interest cover 7,746 / 1,419 = 5.5 times. EPS 17.74 / 4.92 = 3.6 times. One-point price cut 7,440 x 1% = 74, / 3,350 = 2.2%. Laboratory products 2,407 - 2,525 = -118. Clinical diagnostics Q2 290 / 276 - 1 = 5.1%. Revenue 44,556 - 32,218 = 12,338 (2020-2025). Healthcare channel 1,764 / 1,712 - 1 = 3.0% (2024). Tax at 11.5% instead of 7.5%: 7,308 x 4% = 292. Microbiology Q2 166 / 159 - 1 = 4.4%. Pharma services 6,685 / 6,806 - 1 = -1.8% (2024). Clinical diagnostics 1,115 / 4,676 = 23.8%. Revenue per employee 20,918 / 70,000 = about $299,000 (2017); 25,542 / 75,000 = about $341,000 (2019). Research and safety channel 7,019 / 6,841 - 1 = 2.6% (2024), 7,440 / 7,019 - 1 = 6.0% (2025). Backlog 7,768 / 5,087 - 1 = 52.7% (2019). Restructuring 362 / 7,746 = 4.7%. Laboratory products Q2 608 / 601 - 1 = 1.2%. Services 18,592 / 17,614 - 1 = 5.6%, cost of services 12,913 / 12,589 - 1 = 2.6% (2023-2025). Life Sciences Solutions internal share (9,977 - 8,545) / 9,977 = 14.4% (2023). Biosciences 4,169 / 10,374 = 40.2%. COVID share 6.63 / 32.218 = 20.6% (2020), 9.23 / 39.211 = 23.5% (2021). R&D 1,397 / 1,337 - 1 = 4.5%. Segment income / total assets 10,109 / 110,343 = 9.2%. ImmunoDiagnostics 912 - 802 = 110; clinical diagnostics 1,115 - 1,104 = 11. Restructuring 459 / 6,859 = 6.7% (2023). Microbiology 645 / 44,556 = 1.4%. Laboratory products 2,613 / 23,041 = 11.3% (2023), 2,407 / 23,984 = 10.0% (2025). Clario 0.45 x 371.5 = about 167, / 9,098 = 1.8%. LPBS capex / segment income 1,005 / 3,350 = 30%; Life Sciences Solutions 152 / 3,768 = 4.0%. Equity / assets 52,686 / 113,174 = 46.6%. Clinical research 7,915 / 44,556 = 17.8%. Eliminations Q2 565 / 501 - 1 = 12.8%. Instruments 7,301 / 6,292 - 1 = 16.0%. Revenue per employee 18,274 / 55,000 = about $332,000 (2016). Healthcare channel 1,788 / 44,556 = 4.0%. China 2,797 / 32,218 = 8.7% (2020). RPO 29.70 - 27.92 = 1.78 billion - revenue by type, company growth, backlog and other ratios. — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Thermo Fisher's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, results releases, earnings calls, MarketsandMarkets and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  7. ReportedIts margin fell from 26.2% in 2024 to 23.0% in 2025, then recovered to 23.0% in the second quarter of 2026 from 18.8% a year earlier, when organic growth was 7%.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - financial statements: income, cash flow, repurchases, debt and equity. — FY2025 · publ. 26 February 2026 · source ↗
  8. ReportedIts margin fell from 26.2% in 2024 to 23.0% in 2025, then recovered to 23.0% in the second quarter of 2026 from 18.8% a year earlier, when organic growth was 7%.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific second-quarter 2026 results, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - revenue, organic growth, segment income and margins, free cash flow and the balance sheet. — Q2 2026 · publ. 23 July 2026 · source ↗
  9. ReportedIts margin fell from 26.2% in 2024 to 23.0% in 2025, then recovered to 23.0% in the second quarter of 2026 from 18.8% a year earlier, when organic growth was 7%.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific second-quarter 2026 earnings call transcript (Motley Fool) - organic growth by segment and market, China, the raised 2026 guidance, leverage, adjusted ROIC and the microbiology sale. Figures from the transcript body, not the summary block - 2026 guidance, capital deployment, leverage and adjusted ROIC. — Q2 2026 · publ. 23 July 2026 · source ↗
  10. ReportedResearch and development was 6.9% of manufacturing revenue in the second quarter of 2026, against 3.1% of total revenue in 2025.
    Thermo Fisher Scientific second-quarter 2026 earnings call transcript (Motley Fool) - organic growth by segment and market, China, the raised 2026 guidance, leverage, adjusted ROIC and the microbiology sale. Figures from the transcript body, not the summary block - 2026 guidance, capital deployment, leverage and adjusted ROIC. — Q2 2026 · publ. 23 July 2026 · source ↗
  11. Moat Explorer calcResearch and development was 6.9% of manufacturing revenue in the second quarter of 2026, against 3.1% of total revenue in 2025.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Thermo Fisher's reported financial statements, results releases, earnings calls and market data ($ millions unless stated). Revenue by type: consumables + services share (18,664 + 18,592) / 44,556 = 83.6% (2025); (12,576 + 5,490) / 24,358 = 74.2% (2018); (13,109 + 6,046) / 25,542 = 75.0% (2019); (18,527 + 6,912) / 32,218 = 79.0% (2020); (22,608 + 8,850) / 39,211 = 80.2% (2021); (20,624 + 16,367) / 44,915 = 82.4% (2022); (17,597 + 17,614) / 42,857 = 82.2% (2023); (17,587 + 17,845) / 42,879 = 82.6% (2024); H1 2026 (9,794 + 9,899) / 22,999 = 85.6%. Instruments 7,301 / 7,924 - 1 = -7.9% (2022-2025), a fall of 623. Consumables 18,664 / 17,587 - 1 = 6.1%. Services 18,592 / 17,845 - 1 = 4.2%. Gross margin by type 2025: products (25,965 - 13,405) / 25,965 = 48.4%; services (18,592 - 12,913) / 18,592 = 30.5%; total (44,556 - 13,405 - 12,913) / 44,556 = 40.9%. Businesses: BioProduction 2,652 / 2,923 - 1 = -9.3% (2024), 3,200 / 2,652 - 1 = 20.7% (2025), Q2 2026 941 / 745 - 1 = 26.3%. Biosciences 4,169 / 4,238 - 1 = -1.6%. Transplant 492 / 393 - 1 = 25.2%, Q2 134 / 124 - 1 = 8.1%. ImmunoDiagnostics 912 / 802 - 1 = 13.7%, Q2 248 / 234 - 1 = 6.0%. Clinical diagnostics 1,115 / 1,104 - 1 = 1.0%. Microbiology 645 / 618 - 1 = 4.4% (about 2.2% a year); sale price 1,075 / 645 = 1.7 times; microbiology / Specialty Diagnostics 645 / 4,676 = 13.8%. Research and safety channel 7,440 / 6,841 - 1 = 8.8%, Q2 2,036 / 1,883 - 1 = 8.1%, 7,440 - 6,841 = 599. Healthcare channel 1,788 / 1,712 - 1 = 4.4%, 1,788 / 1,764 - 1 = 1.4% (2025), Q2 442 / 407 - 1 = 8.6%. Laboratory products 2,407 / 2,613 - 1 = -7.9%. Channels (7,440 + 1,788) / 44,556 = 9,228 / 44,556 = 20.7%. Revenue growth: 44,556 / 42,879 - 1 = 3.9% (2025), increase 44,556 - 42,879 = 1,677; 44,556 / 42,857 - 1 = 4.0% (2023-2025); 44,556 / 16,965 = 2.6 times (2015-2025). Research channel share of the increase 422 / 1,677 = 25%. Eliminations / revenue 633 / 16,965 = 3.7% (2015), 2,033 / 44,556 = 4.6% (2025). Life Sciences Solutions sold to other segments 1,593 / 10,374 = 15.4%; external revenue 8,781 / 8,160 - 1 = 7.6%. Pharma services 7,142 / 6,685 - 1 = 6.8%; clinical research 7,915 / 7,836 - 1 = 1.0%; Q2 2026 clinical research 2,396 / 1,955 - 1 = 22.6%. Clinical research + pharma services 7,915 + 7,142 = 15,057, / 44,556 = 33.8% (2025); (7,836 + 6,685) / 42,879 = 33.9% (2024); (7,691 + 6,806) / 42,857 = 33.8% (2023); Q2 2026 2,396 + 1,893 = 4,289, / 11,994 = 35.8%; Q2 2025 1,955 + 1,794 = 3,749. Patheon + PPD + Clario 7,358 + 16,036 + 9,098 = 32,492. Clario price / 2025 revenue 9,098 / 1,500 = 6.1 times; 9,098 / 1,250 = 7.3 times; goodwill 5,934 / 9,098 = 65%. Filtration 3,870 / 750 = 5.2 times. LPBS capital expenditure 1,005 / 1,525 = 65.9%. Revenue per employee 32,218 / 80,000 = about $403,000 (2020); 44,556 / 125,000 = about $356,000 (2025); 356 / 403 - 1 = -12%. Remaining performance obligations 24.61 / 28.30 - 1 = -13.0% (2021-2024); 29.70 / 46.336 = 64% of trailing revenue. 2019 backlog 4,577 / 7,768 = 59%. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 44,556 - 21,219 + 22,999 = 46,336; net income 6,704 - 3,124 + 3,387 = 6,967. COVID: Life Sciences Solutions segment income 3,420 / 7,817 - 1 = -56%; testing 0.33 / 7.26 = 4.5% remaining. Tax rate 547 / 7,308 = 7.5% (2025); 657 / 7,037 = 9.3% (2024); 284 / 6,298 = 4.5% (2023). R&D 1,397 / 44,556 = 3.1%. Adjusted less GAAP EPS 22.87 - 17.74 = 5.13. Acquisitions booked since 2021: PPD 16,036 + PeproTech 1,864 + European viral vector 830 + Mesa Biotech 472 + The Binding Site 2,699 + CorEvitas 910 + Olink 3,146 + filtration and separation 3,870 + Clario 9,098 = 38,925. Goodwill and intangibles / total assets (54,832 + 18,606) / 113,174 = 73,438 / 113,174 = 65% (June 2026); (49,362 + 15,838) / 110,343 = 59% (end 2025). Genetic sciences 2,870 / 2,787 - 1 = 3.0%. Analytical Instruments 7,554 / 63,400 = 11.9% of the MarketsandMarkets estimate; revenue 7,463 / 7,263 - 1 = 2.8% (2024), 7,554 / 7,463 - 1 = 1.2% (2025), Q2 1,847 / 1,728 - 1 = 6.9%. Market value against Danaher 249.58 / 157.81 - 1 = 58%. China share of revenue 2,060 / 20,918 = 9.8% (2017), 2,752 / 25,542 = 10.8% (2019), 3,444 / 39,211 = 8.8% (2021), 3,793 / 44,915 = 8.4% (2022). Year-end P/E = market value / net income: 56.61 / 1.975 = 28.7 (2015), 55.74 / 2.022 = 27.6 (2016), 76.14 / 2.225 = 34.2 (2017), 90.09 / 2.938 = 30.7 (2018), 130.27 / 3.696 = 35.2 (2019), 184.61 / 6.375 = 29.0 (2020), 262.92 / 7.725 = 34.0 (2021), 215.98 / 6.950 = 31.1 (2022), 205.08 / 5.995 = 34.2 (2023), 198.99 / 6.335 = 31.4 (2024), 217.70 / 6.704 = 32.5 (2025), trailing 249.58 / 6.967 = 35.8. Segment margins = segment income / segment revenue: Life Sciences Solutions 1,414 / 4,774 = 29.6% (2015), 2,446 / 6,856 = 35.7% (2019), 7,817 / 15,631 = 50.0% (2021), 3,420 / 9,977 = 34.3% (2023), 3,503 / 9,631 = 36.4% (2024); Analytical Instruments 613 / 3,208 = 19.1% (2015), 1,027 / 4,821 = 21.3% (2017), 1,273 / 5,522 = 23.1% (2019), 808 / 5,124 = 15.8% (2020), 1,908 / 7,263 = 26.3% (2023); Specialty Diagnostics 873 / 3,244 = 26.9% (2015), 1,024 / 4,763 = 21.5% (2022); LPBS 922 / 6,372 = 14.5% (2015), 1,271 / 12,245 = 10.4% (2020), 1,844 / 14,862 = 12.4% (2021), 2,872 / 22,511 = 12.8% (2022), 3,358 / 23,041 = 14.6% (2023), 3,090 / 23,157 = 13.3% (2024). Segment shares 2025: Life Sciences Solutions income 3,768 / 10,109 = 37.3%, revenue 10,374 / 46,589 = 22.3%; LPBS external revenue 23,818 / 44,556 = 53.5%. Combined segment margin 10,109 / (44,556 + 2,033) = 10,109 / 46,589 = 21.7%. Segment growth: Life Sciences Solutions 10,374 / 9,631 - 1 = 7.7% (2025), Q2 2026 2,815 / 2,499 - 1 = 12.6%; Specialty Diagnostics 4,676 / 4,512 - 1 = 3.6% (2025), Q2 1,205 / 1,134 - 1 = 6.3%; LPBS 23,984 / 23,157 - 1 = 3.6% (2025), Q2 6,693 / 5,995 - 1 = 11.6%. Ten-year compound growth 2015-2025: Life Sciences Solutions (10,374 / 4,774)^(1/10) - 1 = 8.1%; Specialty Diagnostics (4,676 / 3,244)^(1/10) - 1 = 3.7%; LPBS (23,984 / 6,372)^(1/10) - 1 = 14.2%. Additional: return on equity 6,704 / ((53,407 + 49,584) / 2) = 13.0% (2025). Instruments share 6,292 / 24,358 = 25.8% (2018), 3,305 / 22,999 = 14.4% (H1 2026). Life Sciences Solutions segment income Q2 1,041 / 919 - 1 = 13.3%. Services share 2,297 / 16,965 = 13.5% (2015), 18,592 / 44,556 = 41.7% (2025). Service gross margin (17,614 - 12,589) / 17,614 = 28.5% (2023), (17,845 - 12,654) / 17,845 = 29.1% (2024); product (25,034 - 12,523) / 25,034 = 50.0% (2024). LPBS growth 23,984 - 23,157 = 827 = 457 + 422 - 118 (laboratory products) + 79 (clinical research) - 13 (eliminations). Eliminations 3,010 / 39,211 = 7.7% (2021). Europe 11,826 / 10,741 - 1 = 10.1%; North America 23,033 / 22,764 - 1 = 1.2% (2023-2025). Headcount 125,000 / 122,000 - 1 = 2.5%. Electron microscopy 2,957 / 2,564 - 1 = 15.3%. Net debt end 2025 39,380 - 9,852 - 253 = 29,275. Goodwill added 54,832 - 45,853 = 8,979 (end 2024 to June 2026). Specialty Diagnostics best annual margin 910 / 3,339 = 27.3% (2016). Intersegment shares 2025: 201 / 7,554 = 2.7%, 72 / 4,676 = 1.5%, 167 / 23,984 = 0.7%. COVID response less testing 2021: 9.23 - 7.26 = 1.97 billion. Buyback gain 675.00 / 482.66 - 1 = 40%. Olink goodwill 2,301 / 3,146 = 73%. Life Sciences acquisitions 1,342 + 1,864 + 3,146 + 3,870 = 10,222; segment revenue 10,374 - 4,774 = 5,600. Instrumentation market (92.53 / 63.4)^(1/6) - 1 = 6.5%. Healthcare channel 1,788 / 4,676 = 38%. LPBS segment income Q2 936 / 825 - 1 = 13.5%. Interest cover 7,746 / 1,419 = 5.5 times. EPS 17.74 / 4.92 = 3.6 times. One-point price cut 7,440 x 1% = 74, / 3,350 = 2.2%. Laboratory products 2,407 - 2,525 = -118. Clinical diagnostics Q2 290 / 276 - 1 = 5.1%. Revenue 44,556 - 32,218 = 12,338 (2020-2025). Healthcare channel 1,764 / 1,712 - 1 = 3.0% (2024). Tax at 11.5% instead of 7.5%: 7,308 x 4% = 292. Microbiology Q2 166 / 159 - 1 = 4.4%. Pharma services 6,685 / 6,806 - 1 = -1.8% (2024). Clinical diagnostics 1,115 / 4,676 = 23.8%. Revenue per employee 20,918 / 70,000 = about $299,000 (2017); 25,542 / 75,000 = about $341,000 (2019). Research and safety channel 7,019 / 6,841 - 1 = 2.6% (2024), 7,440 / 7,019 - 1 = 6.0% (2025). Backlog 7,768 / 5,087 - 1 = 52.7% (2019). Restructuring 362 / 7,746 = 4.7%. Laboratory products Q2 608 / 601 - 1 = 1.2%. Services 18,592 / 17,614 - 1 = 5.6%, cost of services 12,913 / 12,589 - 1 = 2.6% (2023-2025). Life Sciences Solutions internal share (9,977 - 8,545) / 9,977 = 14.4% (2023). Biosciences 4,169 / 10,374 = 40.2%. COVID share 6.63 / 32.218 = 20.6% (2020), 9.23 / 39.211 = 23.5% (2021). R&D 1,397 / 1,337 - 1 = 4.5%. Segment income / total assets 10,109 / 110,343 = 9.2%. ImmunoDiagnostics 912 - 802 = 110; clinical diagnostics 1,115 - 1,104 = 11. Restructuring 459 / 6,859 = 6.7% (2023). Microbiology 645 / 44,556 = 1.4%. Laboratory products 2,613 / 23,041 = 11.3% (2023), 2,407 / 23,984 = 10.0% (2025). Clario 0.45 x 371.5 = about 167, / 9,098 = 1.8%. LPBS capex / segment income 1,005 / 3,350 = 30%; Life Sciences Solutions 152 / 3,768 = 4.0%. Equity / assets 52,686 / 113,174 = 46.6%. Clinical research 7,915 / 44,556 = 17.8%. Eliminations Q2 565 / 501 - 1 = 12.8%. Instruments 7,301 / 6,292 - 1 = 16.0%. Revenue per employee 18,274 / 55,000 = about $332,000 (2016). Healthcare channel 1,788 / 44,556 = 4.0%. China 2,797 / 32,218 = 8.7% (2020). RPO 29.70 - 27.92 = 1.78 billion - revenue by type, company growth, backlog and other ratios. — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Thermo Fisher's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, results releases, earnings calls, MarketsandMarkets and market data; operands shown in the source line.
Sources
Generated September 28, 2026